Prescription Fills for Weight Loss Drugs Double in 2024 Despite High Costs
Prescription fills for blockbuster weight loss drugs in the US more than doubled in 2024, despite limited insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs. The figures come from data released by drug savings company GoodRx, which shows that prescription fills for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound increased by more than 100% and 300%, respectively, since the start of 2024.
The data highlights the insatiable demand for a class of medications called GLP-1 and GIP agonists, which mimic gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar. The list prices for Wegovy and Zepbound are roughly $1,000 per month before insurance or savings cards.
Despite the high demand, only 9% of people with commercial insurance have unrestricted coverage of Zepbound, and 14% have unrestricted coverage of Wegovy. The majority of patients, around 60% to 70%, are under insurance plans with more restrictive coverage of the drugs.
Out-of-pocket costs can add up, even with insurance coverage. The average insured person taking Zepbound can expect to pay over $2,500 a year in copays for the drug. GoodRx found that people spent $231 on average out of pocket for a monthly prescription of Zepbound from January 2023 to October this year.
The data also shows that nearly 1 in 5 people with commercial insurance have no coverage of at least one branded GLP-1 and GIP agonist prescribed for weight loss. GoodRx found that Americans have overspent by at least $200 million by paying the full retail prices for weight loss medications instead of leveraging savings options.
The company’s data is consistent with other research indicating spotty insurance for weight loss drugs in the US. The federal Medicare plan does not cover weight loss treatments unless they are approved and prescribed for another health condition. However, the Biden administration has proposed a rule that would allow Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs for patients with obesity, which could significantly expand access to the treatments.